NUJ serves strike notice on Irish Examiner

The National Union of Journalists has served strike notice on management at the Irish Examiner and Evening Echo in a dispute over pay.

The action is due to start on Monday, December 15. The company received notice from the NUJ this afternoon advising management of the union’s intention to commence industrial action.

The union says management has not engaged in "meaningful negotiations" on their pay claims.

But management at The Irish Examiner and Evening Echo have expressed regret at the decision.

In a statement, the Company said that "normal industrial relations procedures have not been exhausted in relation to the NUJ’s current pay claim".

"The demands of the NUJ are for cumulative basic pay increases in excess of 25% over a three year period.

"The Company has already reached pay agreements with the majority of its employees. The deal reached with GPMU, SIPTU, AMICUS and TEEU (ie all unions represented in the Company with the exception of the NUJ), is for an increase in basic pay of 3% for the calendar year 2003, 4% for 2004 and 4% for 2005, together with the continuation of the existing profit sharing arrangements for each of those years.

"The Company remains open to resolving this matter with the NUJ through normal industrial relations procedures."